Newark Mayor Cory Booker has a commanding lead over likely opponents in next year’s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, according to a poll released this afternoon.

The survey, by PowerPAC.org, is the second today to show Booker with a lead over Frank Lautenberg, the current senator. According to the PowerPAC survey, 48 percent of New Jersey Democrats favor Booker and 21 percent support Lautenberg, who is 89 years old and has not announced whether he will run for re-election next year.

In a hypothetical primary between Booker, state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone and Rep. Rob Andrews, the PowerPAC poll found Booker would receive 48 percent of the votes. Andrews, from the 1st congressional district in South Jersey, came in second with 10 percent support. Pallone, of the 6th district, took 8 percent and Sweeney received 6 percent.

The poll surveyed 1,170 registered Democrats in New Jersey between Jan. 7 and Jan. 9, according to PowerPAC. It had a margin of error of 2.9 percent. PowerPAC describes itself as an advocacy organization focused on “increasing civic participation of people of color.”

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The Bloggers

Melissa Hayes, who has worked at The Record since 2010, covers Gov. Chris Christie and politics for the State House Bureau. Follow her on Twitter at @Record_Melissa. View all of her posts

Herb Jackson is the Washington correspondent for The Record, covering North Jersey issues on the Potomac, including the activities of the congressional delegation and federal policies that affect the region. Follow him on Twitter @Record_DC.View all of his posts.

Salvador Rizzo covers politics for The Record’s State House bureau, with a focus on financial issues and the state budget, and legal issues in the New Jersey courts. Follow him on Twitter @rizzoTK.View all of his posts.

Charles Stile is the political columnist for The Record. He is a former State House Bureau chief at The Record and has covered politics and government in New Jersey for more than two decades. Follow him on Twitter @PoliticalStile. View all of his posts